Patient injecting themself within the abdomen with an Ozempic (semaglutide) needle. (Photo by Douglas Cliff on Shutterstock)
For a very long time, weight-reduction plan and train have been the one reasonable choices for many individuals who wished to drop some pounds, however current pharmaceutical advances have led to the event of weight reduction medicine. These are based mostly on pure hormones from the gut that assist management meals consumption, equivalent to GLP and GIP.
GLP-1-based medicine equivalent to semaglutide (Wegovy and Ozempic) and tirzepatide (Mounjaro) work by serving to individuals to really feel much less hungry. This leads to them consuming much less – resulting in weight reduction.
Studies present that these medicine are very effective in serving to individuals drop some pounds. In medical trials of individuals with weight problems, these medicine result in a weight lack of up to 20% body weight in some situations.
But it’s necessary to notice that not all the burden misplaced is fats. Research shows that as much as one-third of this weight reduction is so-called “non-fat mass” – this consists of muscle and bone mass. This additionally occurs when somebody goes on a diet, and after weight loss surgery.
Muscle and bone play crucial roles in our well being. Muscle is actually necessary for a variety of causes together with that it helps us management our blood sugar. Blood sugar control isn’t nearly as good in individuals who have decrease ranges of muscle mass.
High blood sugar ranges are additionally linked to well being circumstances equivalent to Type 2 diabetes – the place having high blood sugar levels can result in blindness, nerve harm, foot ulcers and infections, and circulation issues equivalent to heart attacks and strokes.
We want our bones to be sturdy in order that we are able to perform our on a regular basis actions. Losing bone mass can improve our risk of fractures.
Researchers aren’t utterly certain why individuals lose fat-free mass throughout weight reduction – although there are a few theories.
It’s thought that in weight reduction, muscle proteins are broken down faster than they are often constructed. And, as a result of there’s much less stress on the bones as a result of weight that has been misplaced, this may have an effect on normal bone turnover – the method the place previous bone is eliminated and new bone is shaped resulting in much less bone mass being manufactured than earlier than weight reduction.
Because GLP-1 medicine are so new, we don’t but know the longer-term results of weight reduction achieved through the use of them. So, we are able to’t be utterly certain how a lot non-fat mass somebody will lose whereas using these drugs or why it occurs.
It’s exhausting to say whether or not the lack of non-fat mass may trigger issues in the long term or if this is able to outweigh the various advantages which can be associated with these drugs.
Maintaining muscle and bone
There are many issues you are able to do whereas taking GLP-1 medicine for weight reduction to take care of your muscle and bone mass.
Research tells us that eating enough protein and staying physically active may be useful in decreasing the quantity of non-fat mass that’s misplaced when reducing weight. One of the perfect forms of train is doing resistance coaching or weight coaching. This will assist to preserve muscle mass, and protein will assist us preserve and construct muscle.
If you discover it troublesome to search out the time to squeeze in a exercise, there are many easy issues you are able to do throughout your day to assist preserve your muscle mass throughout weight reduction. Using the stairs somewhat than taking the elevator, carrying the procuring in from the automotive in fewer journeys and strolling at a barely faster tempo are all actually nice methods of incorporating exercise into your day.
GLP-1 medicine equivalent to Wegovy, Ozempic and Mounjaro are thrilling new instruments for weight loss. But proof means that to get the perfect long-term consequence from these medicine, it’s necessary to mix them with wholesome modifications to eating regimen and bodily exercise.
